Re: Get the lowest price on anything
- From: mg <mgkelson@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 8 Dec 2007 00:39:07 -0800 (PST)
On Dec 7, 1:47 pm, Jim Higgins <gordian...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Get the lowest price on anythinghttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/29/pf/bestweb_shopping.moneymag/index.ht...
December 7 2007: 9:47 AM EST
NEW YORK (Money Magazine) -- In the world of brick-and-mortar retailing,
finding the best price is often a simple matter of driving to Costco or
Wal-Mart.
But in Web world, hundreds of retailers and mom-and-pops are fighting
one another, and your fellow shoppers have battleground intelligence to
share.
When you're on a bargain hunt
Hit the "Hot Deals" forums at FatWallet.com and SlickDeals.net. Though
both sites have a particular emphasis on pricey electronics, users
regularly uncover and post discounts that run past 50% of the retail
price on all sorts of items.
I've been using the Hot Deals forum at FatWallet.com for a long time
now. I didn't know about SlickDeals.net, though. I'll have to give it
a try. There are some caveats, though. One of them, as you mentioned
is to do very through research, as you mentioned, before you buy.
Another piece of advice is don't procrastinate or forget to carefully
fill out the rebate form and mail it in.
Another piece of advice, at least with computer stuff, is don't assume
that the internet always provides you with the best deal. I've found
that sometimes you can find a local computer shop that is very
competitive and if the thing doesn't work you can take it back.
Another trick I learned recently is that sometimes you can get a
further discount or free shipping by going through PayPal. Recently, I
found a very good deal on an item and then as a bonus there was no
sales tax and I got free shipping going through PayPal. Then to make
the deal even better I didn't have to burn any gas or stand in any
cash register lines, etc. All I had to do was open the front door when
UPS rang the bell.
A recent post on SlickDeals pointed shoppers to a 50%-off sale at Kohls.com.
Another alert user followed up with a coupon code - think of it as the
clip-out coupon of the digital world - to give another 20% off when
entered in the checkout window. If you got in on the deal, you could
have walked away with a $60 pair of casual shoes for $24 plus tax and
shipping. The catch: The better the deal, the quicker the forum's users
will wipe out a Web site's inventory.
When you're researching a product
Check out the reviews on Amazon.com. Pay particular attention to posts
written by users who have a badge under their names designating them a
"top reviewer." You can be more confident that their reviews are
legitimate and not written by a seller.
You want a critical mass of reviews - at least 25 or so.
Another good source of customer reviews: Epinions.com.
Once you know what you want
Start at comparison shopper PriceGrabber.com. Search for your item and
you'll get back quotes from major retailers and small outfits. Make sure
you disclose your zip code, so the site can factor in tax and shipping.
Note the two or three lowest listed prices, then go to SlickDeals'
coupons section and check to see whether any discounts are available
that would cut your price further.
If you're truly industrious, you can earn a small rebate on your
purchase by buying through the Cash Back section of Ebates.com or
FatWallet.com. Merchants pay those sites a commission, which they share
with you. Expect to save another 1% to 5%, depending on the store.
--
Civis Romanus Sum
.
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